Aglaonema plant named ‘Sterling’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aglaonema  plant named ‘Sterling’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant form; vigorous growth habit; freely clumping habit; full, dense and bushy plant appearance; undulate lanceolate leaves with acuminate apices; leaves positioned roughly horizontally; unique leaf coloration; upper leaf surfaces lustrous silvery gray green-colored with sparse lighter silvery gray green-colored flecks and chevrons; lower leaf surfaces medium green-colored; green-colored leaf petioles with sparse and random pale yellow-colored spots and streaks; and tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical classification/cultivar denomination: Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Sterling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sterling’.

The new Aglaonema is the result of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Aglaonema cultivars with compact and dense plant habit, unique leaf coloration, interesting leaf shapes, resistance to pathogens and pests common to Aglaonemas and tolerance to low temperatures.

The new Aglaonema originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors on Apr. 24, 1984 of the Aglaonema commutatum cultivar Malay Lady, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Aglaonema hybrida identified as code number KSG Hybrid 85-22-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Aglaonema was discovered and selected by the Inventors in 1988 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India. The new Aglaonema was selected on the basis of its plant habit, leaf shape and uniquely colored foliage.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by divisions since September, 1989 in a controlled environment in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, has shown that the unique features of this new Aglaonema are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sterling’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sterling’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant form.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely clumping habit; full, dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Undulate lanceolate leaves with acuminate apices.     -   5. Leaves positioned roughly horizontally.     -   6. Unique leaf coloration; upper leaf surfaces lustrous silvery         gray green-colored with sparse lighter silvery gray         green-colored flecks and chevrons; lower leaf surfaces medium         green-colored.     -   7. Green-colored leaf petioles with sparse and random pale         yellow-colored spots and streaks.     -   8. Tolerant to low temperatures.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the female parent, the Aglaonema commutatum cultivar Malay Lady, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more outwardly arching than         and not as upright as plants of the cultivar Malay Lady.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Malay Lady         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Malay Lady         had dark green-colored leaves with silvery green-colored         chevrons.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Malay Lady         differed in leaf petiole coloration as plants of the cultivar         Malay Lady had solid green-colored leaf petioles.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the male parent, the Aglaonema hybrida selection KSG hybrid 85-22-1, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema had a more uniform and outwardly         arching growth habit than plants of the selection KSG hybrid         85-22-1.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than         plants of the selection KSG hybrid 85-22-1.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the selection KSG hybrid         85-22-1 differed in leaf coloration as plants of the selection         KSG hybrid 85-22-1 had dull green-colored leaves with large and         random silvery gray-colored markings.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the selection KSG hybrid         85-22-1 differed in leaf petiole coloration as plants of the         selection KSG hybrid 85-22-1 had leaf petioles with more pale         yellow spots and streaks.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can be compared to plants of the cultivar Moonshine, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,574. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar Moonshine in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more vigorous and grew         faster than plants of the cultivar Moonshine.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema were narrower, longer         and had more tapered apices than leaves of plants of the         cultivar Moonshine.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Moonshine         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Moonshine         had dull gray green-colored leaves without any flecking or         chevrons.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Moonshine         differed in leaf petiole coloration as plants of the cultivar         Moonshine had solid dark green-colored leaf petioles.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Silver Queen, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar Silver Queen in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more outwardly arching than         and not as upright as plants of the cultivar Silver Queen.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more vigorous and were more         freely clumping than plants of the cultivar Silver Queen.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Silver Queen         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Silver         Queen had dark green and silvery gray green bi-colored leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more low temperature         tolerant than plants of the cultivar Silver Queen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Aglaonema, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Aglaonema.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Sterling’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Sterling has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Aglaonema that were grown in 25-cm containers, in Homestead, Fla., in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse with light levels about 2,500 foot-candles. During the production of the plants, temperatures ranged from 2 to 43° C. Plants used for the photograph and description were about 14 months from planting. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Sterling. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Aglaonema commutatum cultivar Malay             Lady, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Aglaonema             hybrida identified as code number KSG hybrid 85-22-1, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 18 to 20 days at 25 to             36° C. Winter: About 30 to 35 days at 15 to 28° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—Summer: About 30 to 35 days             at 25 to 36° C. Winter: About 40 to 45 days at 15 to 28° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous, fleshy, and             freely-branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as             leaves develop; inverted triangle, symmetrical and uniform.         -   Vigor/growth rate.—Vigorous; relatively rapid growth rate.             Plant size appropriate for 25-cm containers.         -   Growth habit.—Freely clumping habit; plants typically             produce about 18 offshoots per plant; full, dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 46 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 44 cm.         -   Stem description.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About             2.1 cm. Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Aspect: Upright.             Strength: Good. Color: 146A.         -   Foliage description.—Appearance: Single; clasping. Length:             About 23.2 cm. Width: About 6.75 cm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse to oblique. Margin: Entire;             undulating. Orientation: Initially upright to roughly             horizontal. Texture: Mostly smooth, slightly rugose;             glabrous; thick and leathery. Veins: Slightly recessed on             upper surface and prominent on lower surface. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Close to 189A with occasional and             random flecking and chevrons of close to 191A mostly along             the primary lateral veins; lustrous. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B.             Venation, upper and lower surfaces: Same as lamina. Petiole:             Aspect: Erect to bent. Length: About 14.2 cm. Diameter,             distal: About 7.5 mm. Diameter, proximal: About 2.5 mm. Wing             length: About 10.5 cm. Wing diameter: About 3 mm. Color,             petiole and wing: 146A to 146B with sparse and random spots             and streaks, close to 4D. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not been     observed on plants of the new Aglaonema grown under shadehouse     production conditions. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been     observed to be resistant to pathogens common to Aglaonema such as     Xanthomomas and Phytophthora. Plants of the new Aglaonema have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to     Aglaonema. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been observed to     be tolerant to wind, rain and temperatures ranging from 2 to 43° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named ‘Sterling’, as illustrated and described. 